I would like to express my utter dismay and disappointment with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on its recent decision to reject more than three quarters of applications to the organic farming scheme, which opened last November for just one month. The scheme itself had been shut since 2015. Some 225 farmers and growers applied for the scheme last November. They did not take this decision lightly. They thought long and hard about it. They did the prerequisite organic courses, paid organic certification membership fees and many hired advisers to do this.

Almost a year through the two-year conversion process, having spent much money and time on this conversion, whether it was buying organic seed or converting farm buildings, 175 of them found out in the last week or so that their applications had been unsuccessful. This is totally unacceptable. I believe only one out of 50 successful applications was actually in horticulture.

I do not know what sort of message this sends out. We are in the midst of a climate and biodiversity emergency. We have rising emissions from the agriculture sector and farmers are lining up and crying out for nature-friendly opportunities across all farming enterprises. This Government has effectively starved the organic sector of funding, so much so that Ireland wallows at the bottom of the European Union table for land being farmed organically, at around 2%, whereas the European Union average is closer to 7% and more progressive countries are up at around 20%.

Organic farming is well known for its benefits for biodiversity, water quality and so forth. It lowers emissions and it also increases farm income. What is not to like about it?

The Government likes to talk the talk, but its actions speak louder than words. The organic sector deserves better and Irish consumers deserve better. We import vast quantities of organic produce, much of which could be produced here thereby supporting Irish farmers and creating Irish jobs. However, the Government would rather use our hard-earned taxpayers' money to support big agribusiness at the expense of many of our farming families and our environment.

I call on the Leader to urge the Minister, Deputy Creed, and the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, to direct their Department to review and reassess these applications and do what they can to facilitate these progressive farmers who are looking to improve their farms and farm incomes while at the same time benefiting our challenged and damaged environment.

I join other Senators in raising the issue of the air ambulance service. As we are all aware, it is a very important service and saves many lives. Earlier this afternoon, Senator McFadden raised this directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe. It is very disappointing that a community rapid-response charity helicopter would be required to fill the gap of what should be a fundamental service provided by the State. Obviously, it is positive that the second helicopter will be based in Roscommon. However, at a wider scale, it is a fundamental service which has saved many lives and has the potential to save many more. It should be fully provided by the State.

As the Minister of State said this afternoon, there are difficulties with staffing. He referred to the recommissioning of former Air Corps pilots, the reintroduction of the service commitment scheme for pilots and the training of junior pilots. This crucial service should be provided by the State.

The road ambulance service has particular challenges and black spots. While there have been some positive developments with the Loughglynn ambulance base operating on a five-days-a-week and two-nights-a-week basis, we were told it would operate on a 24-hour basis for seven days per week, but that has not happened. We need to ensure we support people to get to a centre of excellence or hospital as needs be as quickly as possible. We need to ensure our road ambulance service functions fully. I specifically mention Loughglynn as an example where we have not got it on a 24-hour basis for seven days per week.

We have difficulties now with the air ambulance service. The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, reiterated and emphasised to Senator McFadden this afternoon that it will continue to be based in Athlone, but there are issues with the staffing of that service. We also have issues with our road ambulance service. We certainly need a debate in the House because both of those services are fundamental to saving people's lives and reducing disability.

Did the Senator say Lough Leane?

Loughglynn.

Lough Leane is in Killarney.

The previous speaker made a very important point about the centres of excellence. I had many disagreements over the policies Mary Harney implemented, but the development of certain centres of excellence in cancer treatment has saved many thousands of lives. However, we need the services to ensure people can get to those centres of excellence quickly, safely and on time to get a good outcome. We should ensure that for all our citizens.

I wish to speak about funding of local government. It has again become a serious issue for the capital city. Dublin City Council failed to pass a budget last night.

One of the many problems in regard to the funding of local government is the commitment that was given that the transfer to Irish Water would be revenue neutral, and we now find it is not. This happens over and over again in regard to local authorities, especially within the Dublin area. I sometimes wonder what Fine Gael has against Dublin or what Dublin has done to Fine Gael to be treated in such a manner. We see the same thing in regard to Dún Laoghaire Harbour, where there was a commitment that it would not be a drag on the local authority. We now see it is a drag, with the loss of services which other Senators have raised in regard to the cost of support for the harbour.

There is a big, crying issue in regard to the funding of local authorities. It does not matter what political party anyone comes from but, at this time of the year, as the councils are passing their budgets, we see clearly the difficulties and, in many ways, the contradictions. For example, councillors vote for a decrease in the property tax and are prepared to vote for an increase in social housing rents.

I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business calling on the Minister to attend today to discuss in detail the funding of local government. Local government is the bedrock of Irish democracy and it is the closest interface with the citizens. It is not right that councillors should be put in this position due to decisions that are made by the Government. They were given a clear commitment that the transfer of Irish Water would be revenue neutral but it is not. I formally move that amendment.